Call to take a detailed look at houses bid

A LOCAL councillor has said a controversial housing proposal in North Swindon is worth consideration as it may bring a number of benefits to the area.

Last month, DPDS Consulting Group put in a planning application to build 350 homes on the Abbey Farm site, just north of Tadpole Lane and Lady Lane.

As well as the houses, there are also plans to build a primary school, a recreation area and a shop.

Initially the company held its own public consultation in June to display the plans which originally did not contain provision for a school.

Blunsdon Parish Council has already spoken out against the proposal which it say falls outside land agreed for development under the Local Plan. It believes DPDS is attempting to get in its application before the Local Plan is adopted and it will not be able to get permission.

The local ward councillors expressed concern about the development at the time but Coun Vera Tomlinson (Con, Blunsdon and St Andrews) has now said it is important the plans are given full consideration.

She said: “Initially we were angry that the plans had been put forward without telling the ward councillors but seemingly everyone else.

“I think the new plans are interesting and, while I can’t at this stage give a definite answer either way as I am on the planning committee, we need to give them a proper look.

“We are in need of primary school places in North Swindon so the school provision could be a big help.”

However, Vera said it was vital that if the proposal was to get the go ahead, be it from the council’s planning department and planning committee, it is important that it is done properly.

“We need to make sure we look at the detail closely to see if the lessons have been learned from other developments,” she said.

“In Redhouse we have had some terrible experiences with parking for example so I would be keen to make sure they would not be repeated.

“If it went ahead that would mean three big developments in the area with Abbey Stadium and Tadpole Farm so the most important thing is we reduce the impact on them.

“What I will fight against is to make sure no traffic uses Salz-gitter Drive.”

Comments (4)

A LOCAL councillor has said a controversial housing proposal in North Swindon is worth consideration as it may bring a number of benefits to the area.

Yeah. Just like all of the others have.

[quote]A LOCAL councillor has said a controversial housing proposal in North Swindon is worth consideration as it may bring a number of benefits to the area.[/quote]
Yeah. Just like all of the others have.1 2 Could B

“What I will fight against is to make sure no traffic uses Salz-gitter Drive.”

How's she going to do that then, unless she's planning on closing the road? Doesn't she live around there somewhere? That'll help the appalling traffic in the area then. Salzgitter drive is actually not too bad in comparison to the other roads in the immediate area.

When will these people learn that it's not just parking that is an issue with traffic, it's also the already heavily overloaded junction with the A419, the A419 itself which is also struggling, the motorway junctions, the route to West Swindon are all under pressure too. Continually building without the supporting infrastructure is a recipe for disaster and I honestly can't understand why Vera Tomlinson is seemingly oblivious to the pain this continuous development without infrastructure is causing people.

“What I will fight against is to make sure no traffic uses Salz-gitter Drive.”
How's she going to do that then, unless she's planning on closing the road? Doesn't she live around there somewhere? That'll help the appalling traffic in the area then. Salzgitter drive is actually not too bad in comparison to the other roads in the immediate area.
When will these people learn that it's not just parking that is an issue with traffic, it's also the already heavily overloaded junction with the A419, the A419 itself which is also struggling, the motorway junctions, the route to West Swindon are all under pressure too. Continually building without the supporting infrastructure is a recipe for disaster and I honestly can't understand why Vera Tomlinson is seemingly oblivious to the pain this continuous development without infrastructure is causing people.The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man

Someone remind her that in the election campaign, she stated she would oppose the Tadpole farm development and then just like all the others voted it through.

Someone remind her that she has been involved in the planning committee for a number of years and is currently vice chair, so she has to take some responsibility for the screw up that is RedHouse.

Someone remind her that she is also partly responsibility for the failure in North Swindon to adequately provide school places for primary school children. The same mistakes over primary schooling are being made again over secondary schooling.

Just another councillor looking to big up their self importance.
Someone remind her that in the election campaign, she stated she would oppose the Tadpole farm development and then just like all the others voted it through.
Someone remind her that she has been involved in the planning committee for a number of years and is currently vice chair, so she has to take some responsibility for the screw up that is RedHouse.
Someone remind her that she is also partly responsibility for the failure in North Swindon to adequately provide school places for primary school children. The same mistakes over primary schooling are being made again over secondary schooling.LordAshOfTheBrake

It seems that DPDS have learned that if they include a school in the developments they will probably get it through planning. Unfortunately SBC have already shown their hand on which type of bribery is needed.

DPDS should note that a new secondary school is needed as well.

It seems that DPDS have learned that if they include a school in the developments they will probably get it through planning. Unfortunately SBC have already shown their hand on which type of bribery is needed.
DPDS should note that a new secondary school is needed as well.Robh